Updated Question w/ Poll- 4 full days from DS or 5 half days with him?

I didn't start working until DS was 10 months old. Then, I really only worked part time, physically at work, with a lot of stop ins when I had DS, and worked partially at home. I worked on location for about 25 hours a week. That is no longer an option, I now need to work on location 42 hours a week. I dont have DS 2 days a week (I will work 10 hours on those days). For the other 5 days I will work 4-5 hours a day. He is nearly three, how will he cope? Is that even a big deal If will just be for a big chunk of the afternoon and he will be with family. He will be starting preschool in September, butI feel bad about missing out on fun stuff with him now. I'm also stressed becaue the next day off I will have wont be until July!!

ETA Question

Would you choose

1. Four full days away from your DC (2 awa on visitation, and 2 working 8ish-7ish)

2. 5 half days with him, 4-5 hours away (the other two he is with his Dad)

I'd rather do the 2 full days working and 3 full with him. I don't know, I just think it would be less disruptive than having to keep taking him to family's houses and picking him up a few hours later, every single day. Even if those two days with other people are longer, it will be nice to have 3 whole days together just you and him. Plus you won't be working 7 days a week.

The other person is the reason I only have to do half days when I have DS. I had to extend the business hours, there is a demand for it, and right now it's not a soud decisions to pay someone else to be there.

I would do 4 full days work and have him for 3 full days. IMO, I feel about the same on my 13.5 hour days as I do on my 9 hour days. DS and I only get about 2 hours with each other on the 9 hour days. I know you are talking about 4-5 hour days, but think about the travel time for work, getting ready, dropping DS off, etc. It could easily add 2-4 hours to your time with him per week.

I've just always rather worked long hours and have more days off than work more days.

Hugs, its hard to leave your baby for work.

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Lizzie

LovinMyDS☠Hug Mafia #11☠

I'll follow you down through the eye of the storm, I'll keep you warm.

LOL divided. Yeah, I can take him (in theory) BUT he is a pure disruption. He has written on the walls/doors while I am dealing with customers, I can't focus on the two, and this is when I'm NOT busy. He gets irritated and wants me to take him to the convenience store a few doors down. He wants to strip (YAY, what a demonstration of what the customer needs to do, haha). It's honestly not an appropriate option when I'm busy. The two of us get stressed, and then he cries, disturbing customers. That souds so mean, like I am putting customers first, but I do have to work. It's such a small space, and anything more than 30 minutes in the store end up in frustration for him and then me, which is unfortunate since he rarely gets like that.

If you try to work 7 days a week you will eventually start showing stress related problems- illnesses, irritability, sleep problems. You are no use to ds if you are a frazzled, over-stressed, tired person. do the schedule where you work 4 days a week, ds will adjust and you will have down time.

Understand that working for a couple of 7 day weeks might be doable but doing this long term is a killer, I have worked 6 day weeks and after a few months it got very, very bad.....

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Susie

"The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe it" -Neil deGrasse Tyson

Yeah, I'm stressed even thinking about the 7 day week, but if that's the case I couldn't have family watch him for 10 hours for 2 days, I would have to pick a daycare OR just add hours for the girl in the shop. Best case scenario I could give her the extra 8 hours on two days, 4 on the other and take two days with DS, and have 3 half days. Ugh. This is rough. His grandfather (my dad) is more than happy to have him for 4-5 hours, but any more is unfair to him, DS, and my Dad's business, so I am factoring it all in. We did daycare for quite a while, but DS never adjusted and my Dad, XH, and I preferred that he was with family. I am trying to work it out properly, but at the end of the day, I think I will have to add more hours for the p/t girl. Talking it out helps.